Dear colleagues:
As was announced in President Smith’s address to campus, SUNY Potsdam’s Division of Academic Affairs is proposing to discontinue 14 academic programs, in accordance with the College’s policy on program deactivation (administrator initiated).
Under the proposal, the following programs have been identified to be reviewed for possible discontinuance over the next three to four years:
- Art History (BA)
- Arts Management (BA)
- Biochemistry (BS)
- Chemistry (BA)
- Chemistry (BS)
- Dance (BA)
- French (BA)
- Music Performance (MM)
- Philosophy (BA)
- Physics (BA)
- Public Health (BS)
- Public Health (MS)
- Spanish (BA)
- Theatre (BA)
Altogether, the impacted majors currently enroll 6.3 percent of the student body.
We will be meeting with the department chairs and program directors in the impacted areas to discuss this proposal and review the data that we have used in evaluating each program. We will also meet with the Faculty Senate Executive Committee to review the same data. The units and FSEC will have two weeks to submit any feedback.
Following these meetings, the Provost’s Cabinet will consider the input and make the decision on whether to either move forward with, revise, or withdraw each proposal. If a proposal is moved forward (with or without revisions), the Chair of Faculty Senate will be notified and may request a follow-up meeting if desired. The proposal would then be recommended to the President’s Council for final campus deliberation. All proposals to deactivate or discontinue programs must be submitted to SUNY System Administration for final approval, per SUNY policy #1701.
We feel it is important to be transparent about the outcomes if these recommendations are ultimately approved by SUNY, following the process outlined above. In the event of program discontinuance, no new students would be admitted to each program, effective immediately. All currently enrolled students would be given the opportunity to complete their degrees. The academic deans would work with the areas to address academic and administrative planning moving forward.
We are dedicated to minimizing any impact on our students. If discontinuance is ultimately approved, an academic completion model would be developed, to allow current students the opportunity to graduate, or, if desired, to transfer to other majors/programs here or at partner campuses.
Support and mental health resources are available for students, faculty and staff from the College Counseling Center and the Employee Assistance Program.
Thank you for being a part of the SUNY Potsdam community. It is our goal to ensure an equitable review process for everyone impacted by this request, as we adjust to our changing economic conditions and work to best dedicate our limited resources.
Regards,
Alan
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Alan L. Hersker, Ph.D.
Provost (interim)
Office of the Provost & Vice President for Academic Affairs
710 Raymond Hall